Opti Southeast Championship early entry deadline fast approaching

by Talbot Wilson on 29 Aug 2013

Over 200 optis are expected to hit the Pensacola YC line in the USODA Southeast Championship Sept 21-22. Official practice starts Friday Sept 20 and there are special tours of the new National Flight Academy as well. Talbot Wilson - Copyright

Registrations for Pensacola YC’s US Optimist Dinghy Association (USODA) Southeast Championship are coming in quickly now that the first early entry deadline is just a week away. The deadline for early entry at $90 is Sept fifth. From Sept sixth through Sept 13th a late fee of $25 applies. From then to the final entry deadline day, 1800 on Sept 17th, a very late fee of $50 will apply bringing the total to $140. Enter now and save.

Pensacola’s Southeast Championship is scheduled for Sept 21-22 with practice on Friday Sept. 20 and early check-in available Thursday afternoon. All qualified Opti sailors, not just sailors from the Southeast and not just sailors from the USA, are invited to come to beautiful NW Florida for great sailing. Pensacola Yacht Club is waiting with warm water, warm hospitality, lots of cool fun and plans for a fantastic regatta.

Entries are in from as far West as Houston and as far North as New Jersey and Ontario. Of Course, entries are in from all over the south, throughout Florida and up the East coast and from places in between like Atlanta. This USODA Southeast Championship is a Qualifier for Team Trials 2014.

Participants and their families may also register through the Pensacola Yacht Club web site for the special tours of the new National Flight Academy at NAS Pensacola. Go to http://www.pensacolayachtclub.org/USODA.aspx for details. To make reservations for the Flight Academy Tour please call Deon @ 850-433-8804 ext 101. Reservations and payment must be made by 3:00pm on Sept. fifth.

Two National Flight Academy tours are planned on Friday Sept. 20. First, in the morning from 8-10:30 (before the practice breeze builds on the bay) sailors will be able participate in a hands-on quick immersion experience of life on this virtual aircraft carrier and even try their hands at landing on the carrier’s flight deck (simulated, of course).

This includes interactive mission activities with the ipad board, flight similators, computer programs, and total mission experience. There is a $75 per student charge for this virtual carrier STEM experience. Parents may take their own tour to learn the theory and goals behind the weeklong immersion experience their children would have at the Academy.

During the second tour, Friday evening from 5:30-7PM, Opti sailors and families will be offered a free tour to experience the Ambition experience in a preview mode. This kid oriented tour focuses on the 'cool' factor and experiences at the facility. The morning‘s parent tour would be repeated. Transportation will be furnished from PYC.

There will also be a Green fleet and all young Opti sailors are encouraged to attend. The off-the-beach location at PYC is particularly Green Fleet friendly. Tom Coleman, Green Fleet PRO, is well known to Opti families and will be a great complement to PRO John Matthews who handles the Red, White and Blue Fleets.

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